begin any moment now, here is what we know so far at this hour. police say that they received reports of an active shooter, just at the 30 pm local time, and according to authorities, at least nine people have been hospitalized. the shooter now that, we re being told, there are multiple fatalities, but police have not yet released an exact count. perhaps, we ll get some insight varying this briefing. however, they have confirmed that there is no longer an active threat in the area. let s go to nbc s morgan chesky, he s on the ground for us right outside the premium all there in on texas. morgan, we ve been checking in with you regularly since the tragedy unfolded, what more can you tell us? yeah, amen, there s that remains incredibly large law enforcement presence here surrounding the entire perimeter of the mall with more than 120 stores. as we await to hear the update from the police chief of allen texas, i can tell you that we are hearing more than stories about how it p
being told that there are multiple fatalities. police have not yet released an exact count. perhaps we ll get some insight during this briefing. however, they have confirmed that there is no longer an active threat in the area. let s go to nbc s morgan chesky is on the ground for us rates outside the mall there allen, texas. morgan, we ve been checking in with you since this tragedy unfolded. what can you tell us? aged amen, there still remains an incredibly large law enforcement presence here, surrounding an entire parameter of the small, more than 120 stores. as we wait to hear the update from the police chief of allen, texas, i can tell you that we are hearing more and more stories of how this played out late this afternoon. gunshots were reported at 3:30. i shared some of those interviews with you. i don t mention the story of abby perez, a short time ago. she was the mother that when she heard fireworks, she realized this was an active shooter situation, she took her t
and praying and doing nothing. it is to make a mockery upper, it is to trivialize faith. you know, i completely agree with senator warnock and we all across the country stand with allen in this time of grief, but it s also the exact eric time to be having the conversation about how to present the next tragedy from occurring. we ve already talked about the policies that enjoy widespread support across our country. there is a bill and the texas legislature right now that could raise the age to buy an ar-15 from 18 to 21. it s a bill that would have prevented the massacre of 19 children and two teachers in uvalde, texas. those families from uvalde that lost their kids in that classroom traveled 160 miles to
us. our hearts are devastated and broken tonight. no law enforcement official, no elected official ever imagines or plans to or hopes to speak in front of a press conference like this. but here we are, and we are resolute in our commitment to pray for, praying and believing for the victims of the families. and again, representative talarico, we don t have the sum by, but i want to read for you what raphael warnock just set but the kind of response. he said thoughts and prayers are not enough. in fact, it is a contradiction to say that you are thinking and praying and doing nothing. it is to make a mockery upper, it is to trivialize faith. you know, i completely agree with senator warnock and we all across the country stand with allen in this time of grief, but it s also the exact eric time to be having the conversation about how to present the next tragedy from occurring. we ve already talked